Molding apparatus for making thinwalled hollow articles



` Feb. 27,- 1945.

MOLDING Original Filed April 25, 1941 H. M. DODGE APPARATUS AFOR MAKING THIN-WALLED HOLLOW ARTICLES 4 sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1945. ||.'M. DODGE 2,370,294

kMOLDING APPARATUS FOR MAKING THIN-WALLED HOLLOW ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 25, 1941 IIIIIIIIII.llllilllllllll lllll INVEN-ron Howard M Do dye J 7&5

ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1945. H, M, DODGE 2,370,294

MOLDING APPARATUS FOR MAKING THIN-WLLED HOLLOW `ARTICLES original Filed April 25, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 5 www@ H. M. DODGE 2,370,294

MOLDING'APPARATUS FOR MAKING THINWALLED HOLLOW ARTICLES Feb. 27, 1945.

4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR fortran-al M Dodge Pafented Feaz?, 194s MoLn'ING APPARATUS Foa MAKING THIN- WALLED HOLLOW ARTICLES Howard M. Dodge, Wabash, Ind., asslgnor to The General Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application April 25, V1941, Serial No. 390,276. Divided and this application February 6, 1943, Serial No. 474,942

This invention relatesto molding apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus`of such character' for use in making thin hollow articles s uch as blanks for face or gas masks and the like of soft resilient composition material such as rubber, and yis a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 390,276, filed April 25, 1941.

Molds for making rubber masks are usually of the separable section type wherein a molding cavity is formed in the meeting faces of complemental mold sections and a core is provided to cooperate with the molding cavity in forming the face blank. Thexpresent invention has for its general object the improvement in molding apparatus of the type lmentioned including improved means for moving one of the mold sections into and out of the press in which the molding and curing takes place, improved means for moving or withdrawing the core members from the mold cavities, means for molding air passages in the walls of face blanks through which inhalation air may be conducted directly to the eye pieces of the mask when the same is being worn,'and a relatively small supplemental mold section wholly receivable within and separable mold sections and cooperable therewith for forming re-entrant frontal surface portions of the face blank.

A further and more specic object of the in.

vention is to provide blanks improved'corey in a mold for rubber face means Iincluding a removable yoke which straddles the main .coremember with the latter to form air and has connection passages in the walls of the face blanks that lead to the eye pieces of the finished face blank.

Another object is to provide molding apparatus for making face blanks which is simple in design and construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and in which a multiplicity of uniform face blanks having smooth face conforming curves maybe quickly and economically manu-j factured. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed demovable relative to the.

' f core pieces;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section and with parts' broken away, showing a portion of one of the main core members with the yoke element and the supplemental mold section associated therewith;

Fig. 'l is a sectional detail throughV the yoke element taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

scription of suitable embodiments of the inven- A l tion made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section and with parts removed, showing a molding press and associated mold sections and parts for simultaneously shaping and curing a plurality of face blanks for gas masks and embodying the principles of the present invention;

n Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts removed and with parts broken away, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; .l

Fig. 8 isa sectional detail through the main core member and yoke element taken substantially on the line 8-8 of- Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail showing the supple- ,mental core piece and taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail showing the means for interlocking the main core member and the yoke element and taken substantially on the line Ill- I0 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a detail showing the Y-shaped yoke element; v y

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan v iew similar to Fig. 5 showing a modification ofthe invention wherein the supplemental core piece is mounted A for pivotal movement on a link pivotally connected to the main core member; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail showing the supplemental core piece of Fig. 12 as the same' would ap pear along the line indicated at |3|3 of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference which indicate like parts throughout the several views, the principles of the invention are4 illustrated -as applied to or incorporated in a.' molding press l which may be of' conventional construction and which includesa fixed platen or upper stationary member 2 having a steam chamber 3 and a lower or movable platen 4 having a. steam chamber 5. The movable platen 4 is suitably guided in the frame structure of the press l and is actuated by a vertically reciprocable ram 6 that may be energized hydraulically or pneumatically in accordance with -well known practice to raise and lower the movable platen 4. Suitable'c'onductors. indicated at 1 and 8, respectively, supply heating steam to the chambers3 and 5 of the platens 2 and 4, respectively.

The article or face blank to be molded is shaped in a suitable, continuous cavity A cooperatively formed or recessed in the meeting faces of separable mold sections 8= and Ill. The upper mold section 9 is secured to the under side of the fixed and are so secured to the movable platen `4 as to be raised and lowered therewith. When the platen 4 is in lowered position the outer ends of the rails I2 rest upon and are supported by a cross member I5 carried by uprights I6 of a framework that carries the actuating mechanism for moving the bottom mold section I0 into and out of the press and for raising and lowering the core pieces, as will later appear.' If desired, a cross member I1 may be secured between the ends of thetracks I2. The lower limit of movement of the platen 4 is determined by lugs or bosses I8 on the sides of the press which engage the underside of cross members I8 secured to the platen 4, as the latter is lowered.

To move the bottom mold section I0 into and out of the press on the tracks I2, spaced parallel section I0 and preventing binding of the same in moving into and out of the press.

The bottom mold section I0, thus mounted on the tracks I2 for horizontal movement into and out of the press, is formed with recesses or cavities which are complemental to and cooperate with the recesses of the upper or stationary mold section 9 and have surfaces 44 to form the molding cavities A and to shape the outer surfaces of the face blanks being made. The number of cavities or recesses A provided in the mold sections is subject to variation. In the drawings is illustrated molding apparatus wherein the separable mold sections are formed to cooperatively provide eight cavities in which face blanks can be simultaneously shaped and cured. The cavity surfaces II and 44 are so shaped that with the additional molding elements and supplemental sections or pieces to be later described, face blanks are formed having curved cheek, chin, nose and forehead portions that join one another in continuous curves, the face blank being molded in partially flattened or-collapsed position so that the cheek portions thereof are withdrawn from one another or bent outwardly in applying the mask to the face of the wearer.

In each of the molding cavities is disposed a core comprising a main core member 45 which is shaped to define the inside surfaces of the face threaded rods or screws 20 are journalled in bearings 2i and 22 securedvto the top of the frame uprights I6 and to the press I, respectively. On the ends of the rods 20 adjacent the press I are secured sprockets 23, around which are trained endless chains 24 which extend upwardly and are trained around sprockets 21 secured on stub shafts 25 journalled in bearings 26 on the top of the press. The shafts 25 have' sprockets 28 sev cured thereon, driven by chains 29 that extend to a'double sprocket 30 secured on shaft 3l of a speed reducer32. This speed reducer is driven by a belt or chain 33 connected to a reversible electric drive motor 34. As shown in Fig. l, the speed reducer 32 and the motor 34 may be mounted on top of the press I and suitable controls for energizing the motor 34 for .forward and reverse operation are provided in accordance with well known practice. The drive is so arranged that the threaded rods`20 rotate simultaneously and synchronously. Nuts 35 are threadedly mounted on the rods 20 and are formed with grooves 36 which receive tracks or guides 31 carried by horizontal members 38 of the supporting frame. Thus, the nuts 35, held against rotation by the interfitting relation of the keys or guide bars 31, are arranged to move in unison along the rods 20 during rotation of the latter.

Secured to one end of the movable mold section IU is a cross member 4I, the ends of which extend beyond the frame of the press I and are formed with recesses 42 which straddle the nuts 35, and the nuts 35 are formed with channels or saddles 43 which receive the ends of the members 4I, so that movement of the nuts 35 along the rods 20 causes the member 4I to travel therewith and hence withdraw the mold section I0 out of the press or force the same back into the press. Since the screws or rods 20 have a common drive, they rotate in unison and the blocks or nuts 35 movesimultaneously and at the same speed, thereby insuring accurate movement of the mold III) , of the core member 45 between the blank. This core member is generally face shaped in curvature, having cheek, chin, nose and forehead portions all of which are curved and which are joined by continuous curved surface portions. Protrusions 46, Fig. 9, are provided to shape eye parts of the mask or face blank A. Each of the core members ,45 includes a portion that extends above the forehead forming portion of the face blank and the core members are mounted by means of these extension portions for pivotal or turning movement on shafts 49 disposed in recesses in the bottom or movable mold section I0 and journalled in the latter. If desired, pairs of the core members may be mounted in back to back relation and secured by bolts 5I to a hinge portion 50 carried by the shaft 49.

It is customary to form face blanks for gas masks and similar devices with air inlet conduits that carry air drawn into the mask directly into the eye pieces or parts for the purpose of preventing condensation on the lenses. In accordance with the present invention these passages may be made during the molding or curing operation of the rubber mask by means of a yoke or core element of generally Y or wish-bone shape, formed of matching curved pieces 52 and 53, held together in predetermined fixed relation by means of a sleeve 54 which is telescopically or slidingly received on the juxtaposed semicylindrical ends of the elements 52 and 53. t

As shown in Fig. '1, the yoke element is disposed so that the ends thereof straddle portion chin and nose portion of the latter and just beneath an extension 48 of the core which forms an exhalation passage in the face blank. The ends 55 of the yoke pieces 52 and 53 are received in recesses or slots 51 formed in the protrusions 45. The sleeve 54 is formed with an annular integral collar 58 centrally disposed relative thereto and which seats in a channel or groove 58 formed in the mold section I0 and a similarchannel or groove (not shown) in the mold section 8, so as to accurately locate the yoke with respect to the cavity forming surfaces II and 41 of the mold sections and the surfaces of the core member 4I.

by the sliding of the collar into the channels. As.

shown in Figs. and 7, the sleeve 54 abuts against shoulders 60 on the yoke elements 52 and 53 so that the yoke elements and the sleeve cooperatively provide a main air inlet passage in a tubular extension yportion of the mask which is of uniform section-or. diameter. A pair of spaced upstanding portions or bosses 6I are formed on the bottom mold section Il) to provide therebetween a channel 62 which receives the sleeve 54 to guide the latter during the initial closing of the mold and before the' collar 58 is received in the channel 59. Spaced ears 63are formed on the sleeve collar 58 and extend laterally from-the sleeve in parallel relation to one another, as shown in Fig. 10, to embrace an extension portion 64 of the core member 45. By this arrangement the yoke'is supported at three points when the core member 45 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 6, two points of support being the yoke ends 56 received in the slots ofthe eye part protrusions, and the third point being the interlocking connection of the sleeve ears 63 with the portion 64 of the core member 45 at a p oint spaced below the chin portion of the core.

-The cores 45 are formed with re-entrant curves 65 between the eye piece protrusions 46 and the nose portion 66, To cooperate with the re-entrant curves 65 of the core 45 and produce suitable grooves or undercut portions on the eye pieces of the face blanks, supplemental relatively small mold sections or pieces 61 are pivoted at 68 to ends 69 of the hinge members 50. As shown in Fig. 9', the supplemental core members 61 are of materially less width` than the thickness of the portions of the core members 45 -between the protrusions 46 and are wholly received Within and between the mold sections 9 and I0 in suitable recesses formed therein. Preferably, the supplemental sections 61 are formed on the sides thereof away from the cavity A with bevel surfaces 18 which are engaged by cooperating bevel surfaces 1| of the recesses in the faces of the mold'sections to Iprogressively move the supplemental core members or sections toward the nose part of the mold core during closing of the mold. If desired, cams A12 may be provided toextend above the face 13 `of the bottom mold section I0, such cams being formed with surfaces extending as continuations of the beveled surfaces 1l of thel mold recesses to engage'one ofthe surfaces 18 of each of the supplemental cores 61 and niove the latter toward the core member 45 and into position during the closing of the mold tov insure lthat the supplemental core member is received in the recesses in the mold faces, thereby avoiding engaging the supplemental member 61 in misplaced positionbetweenl the mold sections, which would be apt to result in injury to the latter. f

Means for simultaneously raising al1 of theA core members 45 out of the cavity recesses 44 when the mold section l0 is 'withdrawn from the pre'ss is provided in the' forml of a plurality of rotatably mounted vertical threaded rods or screws 14'. These rods are vertically reciprocable inlguides 15 carried by horizontal frame members 1lil which are supported by the uprights I6 retained in the guides 15 and are slidably received in longitudinally extending grooves in thel rods 14 to prevent turning'of the'rods in the guides. Supported on a plate or crossmember I 18, carried by the luprights I6 yand 11, are housings 19 in which are journaled sleeves 80. These sleeves threadedly engage the rods 14 and are provided with suitable thrust bearing means so that rotation of the sleeves moves the rods 14 vertically in the guides 15. Sprockets 8l secured on the sleeves 80'externally' of the housings -19 are engaged by a; common drive belt or chain 82 actuated by a sprocket on a verticalw shaft journalled in the plate 18 and having a ring gear 83,'engaged by a bevel gear 84 of a speed reducer 85. A reversible electric motor 86 is drivingly connected to the speed reducer 85 and is provided with suitable controls so that at the will of the operator or otherwise, the sleeves 80 can be simultaneously rotated in a forward direction to raise all of the rods 14 inl unison or rotated in a reverse direction to simultaneously Y lower all the rods 14 in unison.

Surmounting the upper ends of the rods 14 are pushers -89 pivoted to the rods at 90 and formed with spherical recesses 9| in their upper -ends t0 receive spherical bearing members 92 secured to ois and uprights 11. Suitable keys (not shown) are the underside of the cores 45. 'I'he sockets 9| and the spherical members 92 comprise universal A pressure joints which allow relative universal pivoting of the pushers 89 relative to the core members. Vertical openings orl passages 93 are formed in the movable mold section lll in alignment with the bearing members 92 to receive the pushers 89 and threaded rods 14 when the latter are raised to free the core members 45 from the cavity recesses 44. On cross member 94 supported -by the cross members 38 of the supplemental frame structure are secured sleeves 95 which guide the pushers 89. As shown Fig. 1,

the pushers may be entirely withdrawn below the plane of travel of the bottom mold section l0 to permit the latter to move into the press.

In Figs. 12 and 13 is illustrated a modification of the invention wherein' the supplemental mold section 61 is connected to the end 69 of the hinge member 50 by mea'ns of a link 96. The link 95 is pivoted to the end portion 69 vof the hinge member by a pin 91 and is pivotally connected to the supplemental mold section 61 by a pin 98. The pins 91 and 98, like the pin 68, allow movement of the supplemental section 61 toward and away from the frontal portion of the cor-e member-45 in the plane of the latter while preventing turning or pivotal movement of the supplemental 'section 61 relative to the core member 45 on the of the supplemental mold section from the reentrant curved portions of the molded articles.

around the nose portion 66 of thel core. As in the case of the embodiment first described, suitable means such as the cam 12 and the bevel sui?- faces 1I are provided for moving the supplemental mold section 81 into a correct position relative to the core 45 during closing of the mold when such-supplemental section is mounted by the link as shown in Figs. V12 and 13.

The principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways', numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construction being resortedto as desired, it beingunderstood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration Without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for moldingA a faceblank, separable moldsections each in one piece and having meeting faces shaped to cooperatively provide a cavity for forming external surfaces of the face blank, a core comprising a member shaped to form inside surfaces of the face blank, said member having protrusions on the sides thereof to form eye parts of theface blank, means for pivotally supporting one end of thev core on one of the mold sections, a yoke element at the opposite. end of the core having end portions straddling the member and connected to the protrusions and a stem portion extending beyond the member and means on the mold section to which the core is pivoted engageable with ment laterally toward and away from an edge of the core member adjacent said protrusions, said supplemental section being shaped to cooperate with the mold sections to form that portion of the external surface of the face ,blank extending between said eye parts.

3. In apparatus for molding a face blank, separable mold sections having meeting faces shaped to cooperatively provide a cavity for forming external surfaces of the face blank, a core comprising a member in said cavity and shaped to form inside surfaces of the face blank, said member having protrusions on the sides thereof to form eye parts of the face blank, a supplemen-` into and out of one of the mold section recesses,

and a supplemental section and means mounting the same onthe core for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the pivotal axis of the core and toward and away from the nose portion of the core.

5. In apparatus rior molding a rubber face kmask or the like, a core member of face shape having curved cheek, chin, nose and forehead portions which join one another in continuous surface curves, and protrusions forv forming hollow eye parts of the mask, separable mold sections having meeting faces recessed to cooperatively provide a cavity for the core member, means mounting the core for pivotal movement into andv out of one of the mold section recesses, a supplemental section and means mounting the same on the core for pivotal movement toward and away from the nose portion of the core, said supplemental section being of less width than the cavity and being wholly received between and within the mold sections on either side of the plane of said meeting faces when the apparatus is assembled, andA means on said one mold section for engaging and moving the supplemental section toward the nose portion of the core member during closing of the mold sections.

tal sectiondisposed wholly Within the mold sec` tions and means mounting the samefor movement toward and away from that portion of the core member disposed between the protrusions,

and means engageable with said supplemental section during the closing of the mold sections for moving the same toward the corevrnember.

4.*In apparatus for molding a rubber facey mask orthe like, a. core member of face shape having curved cheek, chin, nose and forehead portions which join one another in continuous surface curves, and protrusions 'for forming hollow eye parts of the mask, separable mold sections having meeting faces recessed to cooperatively provide a cavity -for e the core member. means mounting the core for pivotal movement 6. A face blank mold comprising a main core member having forming portions shaped to conform to the interior surfaces of the face blank. and a positioning portion extending from said forming portions, said forming portions having integral protrusions on the sides thereof to form eye-parts of the face blank, a passage forming core member of Y shape, the arms of which straddle said forming portions of the main core member and connected at their ends to said protrusions and the stem portion of which is connected to the positioning'portion of said main core member, the passage forming core member -being spaced from the main core member except yblank and having integral protrusions on the j sides thereof to form eye parts of the face blank and portions extending from opposite ends of said shaped portion, a pivotal connection between one of said endportions of the core member and one of said mold sections, and a Y shaped passage forming core member having a stem and arms straddling the forming portion of said main' core member, said arms being connected at their ends to said prtuberances, and said stem being connected to the extending portion of the main core member remote from the pivotal connection, said arms and the inner portion of the stem being spaced from the main core member and from the 'recessed faces of said mold sections.

` HOWARD M.- DODGE. 

